(2025-01-16). Māori politicians call for 'rapid' aid to Gaza after ceasefire deal. asiapacificreport.nz 
By Daniel Perese of Te Ao MƒÅori News MƒÅori politicians across the political spectrum in Aotearoa New Zealand have called for immediate aid to enter Gaza following a temporary ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. The ceasefire, agreed yesterday, comes into effect on Sunday, January 19. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand welcomed the…
(2025-01-16). Gaza ceasefire: After 15 months of brutality, Israel has failed on every front. asiapacificreport.nz 
(2025-01-16). The Resistance Is Not Dead, With Ghadi Francis. mintpressnews.com The coming year is promising to be a crucial one in the history of West Asia. Just weeks have passed since the ouster of Syria's Bashar al-Assad and his replacement with pro-Western leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. | Syria was a key member of the so-called "Axis of Resistance" — a coalition of actors opposing Israel and its actions. What will Assad's departure mean for the resistance against Israel, especially given Jolani's overt friendliness with Tel Aviv? Given their new government, what is in store for Lebanon and Hezbollah now? And how about Iraq and Yemen? | To discuss all of this and more is returning…
(2025-01-16). 'Enough is enough — halt this reckless expansion', Fiji NGO tells Rabuka. asiapacificreport.nz By Anish Chand in Suva A Fiji community human rights coalition has called on Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to halt his "reckless expansion" of government and refocus on addressing Fiji's pressing challenges. The NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) said it was outraged by the abrupt and arbitrary reshuffling of government ministerial portfolios and the…
(2025-01-16). Vanuatu polling underway in snap election one month after quake. asiapacificreport.nz By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Port Vila More than 180,000 registered voters are expected to cast their votes today with polls now open in Vanuatu. It is remarkable the snap election is even able to happen with Friday marking one month since the 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the capital Port Vila. According to…
(2025-01-16). The Heat: BRICS 2025. america.cgtn.com 
Indonesia has formally joined the BRICS as a full member, becoming the first Southeast Asian country to join the group. There are now ten full members and eight new partner countries in the bloc, making up 41.4% of global GDP and half the world population. | Joining the discussion: | Anton Fedyashin is a Pro…
(2025-01-16). Fiji quota proposal sparks debate on women's representation in politics. asiapacificreport.nz 
COMMENTARY: By Monika Singh The lack of women representation in parliaments across the world remains a vexed and contentious issue. In Fiji, this problem has again surfaced for debate in response to Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica's call for a quota system to increase women's representation in Parliament. Kamikamica was speaking at the "Capacity Building…
(2025-01-16). Laos/Thailand: United Nations body petitioned over the enforced disappearance of Thai dissident. fidh.org
(2025-01-16). Bright prospects of Iran's energy portfolio. presstv.ir Iran is currently one of the largest electricity producers in West Asia, yet the electricity industry in the country is saddled with a series of challenges which have resulted in imbalances between production and consumption.
(2025-01-16). Sri Lanka: Open letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on press freedom. fidh.org
(2025-01-16). Bangladesh: Lasting Reforms Needed to Stop Abuses. hrw.org Click to expand Image | Students take part in a protest march to demand justice for those killed during anti-quota protests in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 3, 2024. | © 2024 KM Asad/LightRocket via Getty…
(2025-01-16). Plastic Pollution: A Growing Threat to Bangladesh's Environment. pressenza.com Plastic pollution has emerged as a critical environmental issue in Bangladesh, exacerbated by rapid urbanization, inadequate waste management infrastructure, and a lack of widespread recycling practices. With increasing plastic waste generation, especially in urban centers like Dhaka and Chattogram, the country faces dire environmental and health consequences. As the problem grows, the need for a sustainable solution to manage plastic waste has never been more urgent. | By Md Biozid Jessorey | Rising Plastic Waste and the Role of Urbanization | Bangladesh's urban population is steadily increasing, leading to a su…
(2025-01-16). More than 260 Rohingya refugees arrive in Indonesia. presstv.ir More than 260 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh after floating at sea for days.
(2025-01-16). 2025 Nuclear-Free Future Awards laureates announced. pressenza.com The 2025 Nuclear-Free Future Awards will this year honor individuals from Brazil, Germany, India, Navajo country, the United States and Zimbabwe for their achievements in working for a nuclear-free world. | The Award laureates are chosen by an international jury of their peers and are offered in three categories: Resistance, Education and Solution. The 2025 laureates are: S.P. Udayakumar (India) for Resistance; Márcia Gomes de Oliveira and Norbert Suchanek (Brazil / Germany) for Education; and Edwick Madzimure (Zimbabwe) for Solution.
(2025-01-16). India becomes fourth country to successfully complete space docking operation. tvbrics.com 
The country sets a new benchmark in space exploration with a successful docking experiment…
(2025-01-16). India expects five-fold growth in green investments by 2030. tvbrics.com 
According to government data, India's installed renewable energy capacity reached 209.44 GW by December 2024…
(2025-01-16). 'Key to space ambitions': India succeeds in historic space docking mission. aljazeera.com Only the US, Russia and China have previously docked in space. The expertise is critical for advanced missions.
(2025-01-16). Climate Just Cities: A Global South Perspective. plenglish.com New Delhi._ This article strives to capture concerns that have emerged from ActionAid Association's decades long work with deprived urban communities in India and beyond. The work started through engagement with the urban homeless, and the need to provide adequate shelter, and evolved to engage with people dependent on the informal economy.
(2025-01-16). Lawmakers in States With Restrictions Are Pushing More Anti-Abortion Bills. truthout.org Conservative state lawmakers are prepared to press for more abortion restrictions this year, regardless of any action President-elect Donald Trump pursues in office. Many of the bills filed in state legislatures across the country focus on abortion pills, abortion access for minors and, in at least one state, how to undo protections for the procedure. Legislators in Indiana, Missouri… |
(2025-01-16). Cambodia: Hun Manet Drastically Curtails Rights. hrw.org Click to expand Image | Environmental activist Phuon Keoraksmey is escorted by police officers following the guilty verdict in the criminal trial of 10 Mother Nature activists, at the municipal court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 2, 2024. | © 2024 AP Photo/Heng Sinith…
(2025-01-16). North Korea: No Easing of Systemic Rights Abuses. hrw.org Click to expand Image | The town of Chunggang, North Korea, as seen from the Chinese border town of Linjiang, February 29, 2024. | © 2024 PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images | (Bangkok) — North Korea's government under Kim Jong Un in 2024 retained repressive Covid-19-era policies that restrict movement and trade and blocked humanitarian organizations from entering the country, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2025.For the 546-page world report, in its 35th edition, Human Rights Watch reviewed human rights practices in more than 100 countries. In much of the world, Executive Director Ti…
(2025-01-16). Pakistan: New Government Cracks Down on Free Expression. hrw.org Click to expand Image | A police vehicle set on fire by alleged supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan party during clashes in Karachi, Pakistan, October 13, 2024. | © 2024 AP Photo/Fareed Khan…
(2025-01-16). China and Philippines hold consultation mechanism on the South Sea. plenglish.com Beijing, Jan 16 (Prensa Latina) Representatives of China and the Philippines presided today in the southern city of Xiamen, Fujian province, the tenth meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism on the South Sea.
(2025-01-16). South Korea: Rights and Democracy Prevail. hrw.org Click to expand Image | Demonstrators chant slogans during a protest against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside the National Assembly in Seoul, December 7, 2024. | © 2024 Jean Chung/Bloomberg via Getty Images | (Bangkok) — South Korea maintained its positive human rights record in 2024 despite an increasingly acrimonious political environment and persistent concerns about women's rights, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2025. The prompt impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol following his unexpected and short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3 demonstrated the…
(2025-01-16). Thailand : Sixth conviction of pro-democracy activist Anon Nampa under "lèse-majesté" charges. fidh.org
(2025-01-16). Thailand Appeals for Iran's Help in Releasing Citizens Held Captive in Gaza. tn.ai TEHRAN (Tasnim) — Foreign Minister of Thailand Maris Sangiampongsa appreciated Iran for its good offices in the release of a number of Thai nationals held captive by Hamas in Gaza, asking Tehran to keep playing a role in the efforts to ensure the release of the remaining ones.
(2025-01-15). Gaza ceasefire agreement reached. peoplesdispatch.org The long awaited ceasefire and captives-for-prisoners swap deal was announced on Wednesday, January 15, in a press conference held by Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The agreement puts an end to one of the worst genocides in modern history, during which Israel mercilessly massacred tens of thousands of Palestinians, and devastated the infrastructure of the besieged Gaza strip. The Israeli genocide has spilled over to other parts of the West Asia region, claiming the lives of thousands of civilians, in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. | The genocide marked one of the most crucial era…
(2025-01-15). Global watchdog calls for 'open' probe into crimes against Gaza media as ceasefire agreed. asiapacificreport.nz 
Asia Pacific Report The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Egyptian, Palestinian and Israeli authorities to allow foreign journalists into Gaza in the wake of the three-phase ceasefire agreement set to to begin on Sunday. The New York-based global media watchdog urged the international community "to independently investigate the deliberate targeting of journalists…
(2025-01-15). 'Journalism is not a crime': Gaza reporter slams international press as journalist death toll rises. asiapacificreport.nz Democracy Now! AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I'm Amy Goodman. We turn now to Gaza, where Israel's assault on the besieged strip continues despite ongoing talks over a possible ceasefire. Palestinian authorities say 5000 people are missing or have been killed in this first 100 days of Israel's…
(2025-01-15). Laos: States should ask "Where is Sombath?" at upcoming review of human rights record. fidh.org
(2025-01-15). Israel's planned explusion of UNRWA — time for UN to walk the talk and invoke Security Council action. asiapacificreport.nz COMMENTARY: By Chris Gunness 'In Gaza, only UNRWA has the infrastructure to distribute aid to scale, such as vehicles, warehouses, distribution centres and staff. However, Israeli authorities are making this extremely difficult,' writes Chris Gunness. In the last week of January, two Knesset bills ending Israel's "cooperation" with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency…
(2025-01-15). Japan's tourist arrivals hit all-time high as weak currency draws masses. aljazeera.com Asian country welcomed record 36.8 million visitors in 2024, tourism agency says.
(2025-01-15). Indonesia and Japan pledge to deepen military ties. wsws.org The Japanese prime minister visited Indonesia and Malaysia, as part of efforts to integrate the Southeast Asian nations into Tokyo's preparations for a catastrophic US-led war against China.
(2025-01-15). Will there be war with China? cpusa.org 
Will there be a war with China? People are asking this question as there is a high level of tension near Taiwan and in the South China (East) Sea. U.S. imperialism pushes an aggressive posture with air and naval exercises and continues to arm Taiwan, in violation of previous agreements. Such a war would be a huge disaster for the working class. | Following up on the 2011 pivot to Asia, U.S. imperialism is creating new anti-China military alliances like AUKUS (which includes Australia, the U.K. and the U.S.), and is expanding its strategic military presence in the Pacific region, such as enlarging the naval bas…
(2025-01-15). Making Sense of South Korea's Senseless Martial Law Declaration. asia-pacificresearch.com
(2025-01-15). Vanuatu election: Preparation almost complete for snap ballot. asiapacificreport.nz By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Port Vila The electoral commission in Vanuatu is trying its best to clear up some confusion with the voting process for tomorrow's snap election. Principal Electoral Officer Guilain Malessas said this is due to the tight turnaround to deliver this election after Parliament was dissolved last year. The…
(2025-01-15). Why the draft 'foreign interference' bill is so dangerous for Aotearoa. asiapacificreport.nz COMMENTARY: By Maire Leadbeater Aotearoa New Zealand's coalition government has introduced a bill to criminalise "improper conduct for or on behalf of a foreign power" or foreign interference that echoes earlier Cold War times, and could capture critics of New Zealand's foreign and defence policy, especially if they liaise with a "foreign country". It is…
(2025-01-15). Laos/Thailand: United Nations body petitioned over the enforced disappearance of Thai dissident. fidh.org
(2025-01-15). Sri Lanka: Open letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on press freedom. fidh.org
(2025-01-15). UK anti-corruption minister Siddiq resigns over links to Bangladesh 'embezzlement probe'. presstv.ir The UK's anti-corruption minister has resigned following an investigation into her family's alleged involvement in a significant embezzlement scandal in Bangladesh.
(2025-01-15). Israel kills female Palestinian journalist based in Gaza's Indonesian Hospital. presstv.ir A female Palestinian journalist who reported from Indonesian Hospital has been killed in an Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip.
(2025-01-15). Indonesia develops domestic production of medicines to improve health care sustainability. tvbrics.com 
In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Health is advocating for the local production of 22 key drug raw materials…
(2025-01-15). More than 260 Rohingya refugees arrive in Indonesia. presstv.ir More than 260 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh after floating at sea for days.
(2025-01-15). Afghanistan and Pakistan to discuss Afghan refugee situation. plenglish.com Kabul, Jan 15 (Prensa Latina) The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation of Afghanistan announced today its plans to hold a meeting with Pakistan to address the situation of Afghan refugees in that country.
(2025-01-15). The Israel-India union explored in Fabricating Homeland Security. newarab.com 
(2025-01-15). India's disappearing camels: How a law to save them is wiping them out. aljazeera.com As global camel population rises, it's on drastic decline in India. Experts say law passed in Rajasthan is main reason.
(2025-01-15). In Wyoming, tribal protests prevent land transfer — for now. grist.org A tiny scrap of land within the bounds of the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming has become the center of a heated debate. The roughly 2-acre site is home to the Pilot Butte Power Plant, a defunct hydroelectric station that a local irrigation district is interested in taking over and rehabilitating. | The Midvale Irrigation District approached the Bureau of Reclamation, the federal entity that controls dams and other irrigation infrastructure, with the proposal in 2022. The situation to Steve Lynn, the manager of the irrigation district, seemed to work for just about everyone. The plant could be utilized…
(2025-01-15). Russia & India to Boost Pulses Trade: Govt. infobrics.org Russia, which is mulling diversifying to urad and tur production, is keen to strengthen pulses trade cooperation with India, the government said.
(2025-01-15). India Courts Taliban 2.0. ummid.com The pragmatic Indian move to court Taliban 2.0 has sent ripples in the region, particularly in Pakistan, their common foe.
(2025-01-15). India Courts Taliban 2.0. ummid.com The pragmatic Indian move to court Taliban 2.0 has sent ripples in the region, particularly in Pakistan, their common foe.
(2025-01-15). GST is of the rich, by the rich and for the rich: TS Singhdeo. ummid.com India's GST (Goods and Services Tax), system is disproportionately benefiting the wealthy while burdening the middle and lower-income groups, says TS Singhdeo, former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.
(2025-01-15). Are IITs serving India as they should be? ummid.com There would be nothing wrong if the farmers of Kanpur ask IIT Kanpur to wind up – and maybe relocate its campus to the U.S., as it seems to serve the U.S. more than it does this country.
(2025-01-15). Bhagwat's 'true independence' claim sparks outrage. ummid.com RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that India achieved 'true independence' on the day Ram Mandir was inaugurated has sparked a massive outrage.
(2025-01-15). GST is of the rich, by the rich and for the rich: TS Singhdeo. ummid.com India's GST (Goods and Services Tax), system is disproportionately benefiting the wealthy while burdening the middle and lower-income groups, says TS Singhdeo, former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.
(2025-01-15). Bhagwat's 'true independence' claim sparks outrage. ummid.com RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that India achieved 'true independence' on the day Ram Mandir was inaugurated has sparked a massive outrage.
(2025-01-15). North Korea Has Survived 75 Years of Barbaric Imperial Attack Under the Stewardship of the Much Maligned Kim Dynasty. covertactionmagazine.com Development of nuclear weapons has enabled North Korea to avoid the fate of Libya, Syria and Iraq Over the last 75 years, North Korea has been invaded and bombed back to the stone age by the United States, subjected to unprecedented economic warfare, vilified in the international media and had its population targeted in a …
(2025-01-15). Quezon City Leads Fight against Cervical Cancer with Landmark Community-Based Screening Program. pressenza.com 
Quezon City, Philippines — Cervical cancer, a disease affecting the cervix, is both preventable and curable when detected early. Despite this, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among Filipino women, claiming the lives of more than half of the 8,549 women diagnosed each year amounting to approximately 4,380 deaths. | In response to the urgent need for cervical cancer prevention in the Philippines, Quezon City unveiled a groundbreaking community-based cervical cancer screening program on January 15, 2025, cementing its commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health burden. Th…
(2025-01-15). South Korea's President Yoon arrested over short-lived martial law attempt. aljazeera.com Investigators used ladders to climb into President Yoon Suk-yeol's home after he failed to appear at impeachment trial.
(2025-01-15). BREAKING: President arrested at state house. independent.co.ug 
SEOUL | Xinhua | South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested in presidential residence Wednesday, becoming the country's first sitting president to be kept in custody over his short-lived martial law imposition. A joint investigation unit, composed of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the National Office of Investigation (NOI) and the defense …
(2025-01-15). Impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol arrested over martial law decree. peoplesdispatch.org On Wednesday, January 15, impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested by investigators over his short-lived declaration of martial law last month. He is the first sitting president of the country to be arrested. | Yoon had
(2025-01-15). South Korean President is detained and subjected to interrogation. plenglish.com Seoul, Jan 15 (Prensa Latina) The ousted president, Yoon Suk Yeol, became today the first South Korean leader to be detained for questioning, 43 days after he decreed the controversial martial law in the country.
(2025-01-15). Thailand : Sixth conviction of pro-democracy activist Anon Nampa under "lèse-majesté" charges. fidh.org
(2025-01-15). Russia and Vietnam approve cooperation plan for the period until 2030. tvbrics.com Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the countries intend to increase bilateral trade to US$15 billion by this year…
At least five fires across the Los Angeles area, including one in Hollywood Hills, scorched more than 45 square miles and put roughly 180,000 people under evacuation orders. What do you think?
This partnership marks a new step in reinforcing ASEAN's collective vision while showcasing the strength of regional cooperation…
Shiny Lal is a nurse who came to the U.S. from India at the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic. In a new country facing an unprecedented virus, she dedicated herself to the difficult, dangerous work of front-line caregiving to create a better life for her family. But it wasn't long before her American dream turned into a nightmare. Her employer, MedPro Healthcare Staffing, is among 
Other reputable sources, however, estimate the casualty numbers to be much higher, with up to 200,000 deaths since tens of thousands are missing, believed to be buried under the flattened ruins of Gaza. 
A North Korean-made surface-to-air missile system, broadly analogous to the Russian Tor, has appeared for the first time in combat in the Kursk region.
"In addition to the first captured soldiers from North Korea, there will undoubtedly be more. It's only a matter of time before our troops manage to capture others," Zelenskiy said on the social me…
By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — India installed 24.5 new gigawatts of solar power in 2024, along with 3.4 gigawatts of new wind. That represented a doubling of solar installations over 2023. This surge in renewables installations is unprecedented in the country's history. In all, India has roughly 100 gigawatts of installed solar capacity. …
TOKYO | Xinhua | A Japanese cybersecurity firm has identified distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks targeting 46 companies and organizations in Japan, local media reported Sunday. Trend Micro identified and analyzed networks called botnets that were highly likely used in the DDoS attacks, in which massive amounts of data are sent to websites or …
SEOU | Xinhua | South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will not attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial, scheduled for Tuesday, for safety concerns, Yoon's defense counsel said Sunday. Yun Gap-geun, Yoon's lawyer, was quoted by multiple media outlets as saying that concerns remained about safety and mishaps as the Corruption Investigation Office for …